Devices, Systems and Processes for Facilitating Ad Hoc Communications in Dense Areas

ABSTRACT

Devices, systems and processes for facilitating ad hoc communications in dense areas are described. A system may include a first user source device (USD) communicatively coupled to an internal net, a first user destination device (UDD) communicatively coupled to an external net and a user hub device (UHD), coupled to each of the internal net and the external. The UHD may facilitate connectivity between the first USD and the first UDD via the internal net and the external net. The internal net may use a common use communications technology, and may be formed in a dense area. The internal net may be formed on an ad hoc basis. The external net may use a public wireless system provider communications system located external to the dense area.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technology described herein generally relates to devices, systemsand processes for facilitating communications between a first userdevice and one or more second/remote user devices, each device beingpresent in a dense geographic area, where such density may arise fromgeographic interferences with communication links, saturation of an areawith devices desiring use of limited communications resources, orotherwise. The technology described herein also relates to devices,systems and processes for facilitating communications between the firstuser device and a second user device, system or service located at anetworked destination, wherein the networked destination is locatedoutside of the dense geographic area in which the first user device isthen located. The technology described is also related to use of a thirduser device, configured as a user hub device, to facilitatecommunications between the first user device and the second user device.The technology described also relates to facilitating suchcommunications using the third user device on an ad hoc basis. Thetechnology described herein also relates to the use of one or morefourth user intermediary devices to further facilitate communicationsbetween the first user device and the third user device. The technologydescribed herein also relates to the use of one or more networkcomponents to facilitate communications between the third user deviceand the networked destination.

BACKGROUND

Various commercial entities provide 3G/4G/5G, WIFI and other cellularand/or wireless communications systems for use by user devices, such assmartphones, tablets, laptop computers and other devices. Non-limitingexamples of such cellular and/or wireless communications systemsproviders include AT&T, VERIZON, T-MOBILE and others (herein, eachindividually and collectively being “public wireless systemsproviders”). Each of such providers are identified as a “wirelesscomponent (WC).”

Yet, when seeking to use a wireless component, a user device mayencounter “last mile” limitations. That is, a connection between a givenuser device and a wireless component may be inhibited, degraded, and,under various conditions, impossible; even though a given user device iswithin a theoretical coverage area of a given wireless component.

Notably, many users may attend events in a given geographicallydefinable area, such as at a stadium, arena, auditorium, concert venue,church, or otherwise. Such an area is identified herein as being an“event area.” Similarly, users of mobile devices often are located innational parks, wilderness areas, national forests, remote landscapes,dense city environments or other geographical areas (herein, each beinga “geographic area”).

Yet, event areas and geographic areas often encounter last milelimitations. Such areas are often communications resource impactedbecause available wireless components are often resource constrained, ifnot inoperable, due to the numerous users desiring to establishcommunications links with other users, due to geographic considerations,or otherwise. Accordingly, herein event areas and geographic areas arecollectively identified herein as each giving rise to a “dense area”where such density may arise in whole or in part from the presence ofgeographical limitations, user density, available communicationsresources, or otherwise, such constraints being identified individuallyand collectively as “communications constraints.”

Essentially, users in dense areas may experience bandwidth, frequency,channel, geographic obstacles, signal interference, and othercommunications constraints that inhibit, if not prohibit, theestablishment of last mile communications links between a given userdevice and a wireless component (WC).

More specifically, communications constraints in dense areas ofteninhibit and/or degrade connections, provided by one or more wirelesscomponents (WC), needed for a user of a given user device (herein, a“user source device (USD)”) to communicate data with a destinationdevice, system, or service (herein, a “user destination device (UDD)”).The UDD may be located within or external to the dense area.

Further, such communications links are often desired to be establishedon an ad hoc basis from a USD with one or more UDDs. As used herein, “adhoc” refers to communications that are necessary and use communicationslinks that are not pre-planned, organized, or rehearsed. Further, an adhoc need to communicate by a given USD with a given UDD, or vice versa,may arise with respect to multiple USDs within the dense area and withina limited time period. For example, during an emergency, multiple usersmay desire to then communicate with a loved one, an emergency responder,or otherwise.

Further, such ad hoc communications may involve any form of humanlyperceptible communications, such as text, voice, video, email, chat,video conferencing, audio conferencing, instant messaging, andotherwise. Likewise such ad hoc communications may involve a desire tocommunicate non-humanly perceptible information, such as environmental,physiological, biological, radiological, or other types of informationin one or more of a pre-processed, semi-processed, or processed format.Likewise, the need for such ad hoc communications within a dense areamay vary from one given time to another in terms of one or more of typesof information communicated, volume/size of information to becommunicated, resolution of information communicated, source(s) and/ordestination(s) of the information to be communicated, number ofUSDs/UDDs at a given time seeking to communicate, and otherwise. Thatis, the communications environment arising within a dense area may befluid, randomly changing, and/or unpredictably changing. Such dynamicsassociated with a communications environment in a dense area oftenresult in available wireless components (WCs) becoming oversaturated,overburdened, or otherwise limited and thereby effectively inoperableand ineffective for communicating data between two or more USDs andbetween USDs and UDDs.

Accordingly, the various embodiments of the present disclosure addressthese and other non-trivial technical hurdles to provide devices,systems, and processes for facilitating ad hoc communications betweenone or more USD located within a dense area and/or one or more USDs withone or more UDDs on an ad hoc, dynamic, fluid, random, ever changing, orother basis.

SUMMARY

The various embodiments of the present disclosure relate in general todevices, systems and processes for facilitating ad hoc communicationsbetween USDs, and/or USDs and UDDs in a dense area. In accordance withat least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a system, forfacilitating ad hoc communications in dense areas, may include a firstuser source device (USD) communicatively coupled to an internal net. Thesystem may further include a first user destination device (UDD)communicatively coupled to an external net. The system may furtherinclude a user hub device (UHD), coupled to each of the internal net andthe external, and configured to facilitate connectivity between thefirst USD and the first UDD via the internal net and the external net.For at least one embodiment, the internal net may use a common usecommunications technology. The internal net may be formed in a densearea. The internal net may be formed on an ad hoc basis. The externalnet may use a public wireless system provider communications systemlocated external to the dense area.

For a least one embodiment, the system be used in a dense are that mayinclude an event area. The event area may include one or more of astadium, arena, auditorium, concert venue, a church, or another locationat which more than ten (10) persons may congregate. For at least oneembodiment, the event area may be a geographic area.

For at least one embodiment, a system may include use of a first USDthat includes a hardware processor configured to execute non-transientcomputer instructions for use in forming the internal net by performingone or more operations including: broadcasting an available signal;awaiting receipt of a first response to the available signal;determining whether a sub-internal net exists; forming the internal netwhen the sub-internal net does not exist; determining whether asub-external net exists; and instructing the UHD to form the externalnet when the sub-external net does not exist.

For at least one embodiment, a system may include a first USD thatincludes a hardware processor configured to execute non-transientcomputer instructions for a facilitating a user circle engine. The usercircle engine may be configured to identify any first relationshipinformation regarding the first USD and the first UHD. The hardwareprocessor may be further configured to form the internal net based uponthe first relationship information.

For at least one embodiment, a system may include a first USD thatincludes a hardware processor configured to execute non-transientcomputer instructions for facilitating a geo-routing engine. Thegeo-routing engine may be configured to identify a first link for use incommunicatively coupling the first USD with the first UHD. The hardwareprocessor may be further configured for form the internal net using thefirst link.

For at least one embodiment, a system may include at least two userintermediary devices (UIDs). A user circle engine may be configured toprovide a second relationship information regarding the first USD and afirst of the at least two UIDs, and a third relationship informationregarding the first USD and a second of the at least two UIDs. Ageo-routing engine may be configured to identify a second link for usein communicatively coupling the first USD with the first of the at leasttwo UIDs.

For at least one embodiment, the geo-routing engine may be furtherconfigured to identify a third link for use in communicatively couplingthe first USD with the second of the at least two UIDs. The hardwareprocessor may be configured to form the internal net based upon one ofthe first relationship information and a combination of the secondrelationship information with the third relationship information. Thehardware processor may be configured to form the internal net using oneof the first link and a combination of the second link and the thirdlink. The hardware processor may be configured to form the internal netin view of at least one communications constraint.

For at least one embodiment, a communications constraint may include aminimum bandwidth requirement.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, aprocess, for facilitating ad hoc communications in a dense area mayinclude forming a first internal net between a user source device (USD)and a user hub device (UHD). The process may also include forming anexternal net between the UHD and a user destination device (UDD). Thefirst internal net may be formed in a dense area, on an ad hoc basis,and using a common use communications technology. The external net maybe formed using a public wireless system provider communications systemcomponent located external to the dense area.

For at least one embodiment, the dense area may be one of an event areaand a geographic area. The event area may include one or more of astadium, an arena, an auditorium, a concert venue, a church, or anotherarea with ten (10) or more persons.

For at least one embodiment, a process may include forming of the firstinternal net by broadcasting by the USD an available signal and awaitingreceipt of a response signal from at least two responding user devices.For at least one embodiment, at least two responding user devicesincludes a first user intermediary device (UID) and the UHD.

For at least one embodiment, a process may include, upon receiving theresponse signal, determining whether an adequate sub-internal net existsbetween the at least two responding user devices. If the determinationresults in the affirmative, the process may include forming the internalnet using a first link between the USD and the first UID with theadequate sub-internal net.

For at least one embodiment, a process may include determining whetheran adequate sub-external net exists between the UHD and the UDD. Whenthe adequate sub-external net does not exist, the process may includeseparately forming the external net. When the adequate sub-external netexists, the process may include using the sub-external net as theexternal net and forming a communications net between the USD and theUDD by combining the internal net with the external net.

For at least one embodiment, a determination of whether an adequatesub-internal net and an adequate sub-external net exist are made in viewof at least one communications constraint. The at least onecommunications constraint may include a bandwidth requirement.

For at least one embodiment, a process may include, when the at leasttwo responding devices further comprise a second UID, facilitating auser circle engine on the USD configured to: identify first relationshipinformation regarding the USD and the first UID; identify secondrelationship information regarding the USD and the second UID; and,based upon the first relationship information and the secondrelationship information, forming the internal net using one of thefirst UID and the second UID.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, auser source device (USD), configured for use in facilitating ad hoccommunications in dense areas, may include a hardware processorconfigured to execute non-transient computer instructions forfacilitating each of a user circle engine. The user device may alsoinclude an interface module configured to communicatively couple the USDwith a user hub device (UHD). For at least one embodiment, each of theUSD and the UHD may be located within a dense area. For at least oneembodiment, the user circle engine may be further configured to instructthe interface module to communicatively couple the USD with the UHD overan internal link. For at least one embodiment, such coupling may occuron an ad hoc basis. For at least one embodiment, the UHD may becommunicatively coupled to a user destination device (UDD) using anexternal link. Via use of the internal link, the UHD, and the externallink, the user circle engine may be configured to facilitatecommunications between a user of the USD and the UDD. For at least oneembodiment, the dense area may exist in one or more of a stadium, anarena, an auditorium, a concert venue, a church, or otherwise.

For at least one embodiment, the internal net may use a common usecommunications technology.

For at least one embodiment, the external net may use a public wirelesssystem provider communications system located external to the densearea.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features, aspects, advantages, functions, modules, and components ofthe devices, systems and processes provided by the various embodimentsof the present disclosure are further disclosed herein regarding atleast one of the following descriptions and accompanying drawingfigures. In the appended figures, similar components or elements of thesame type may have the same reference number and may include anadditional alphabetic designator, such as 108 a-108 n, and the like,wherein the alphabetic designator indicates that the components bearingthe same reference number, e.g., 108, share common properties and/orcharacteristics. Further, various views of a component may bedistinguished by a first reference label followed by a dash and a secondreference label, wherein the second reference label is used for purposesof this description to designate a view of the component. When only thefirst reference label is used in the specification, the description isapplicable to any of the similar components and/or views having the samefirst reference number irrespective of any additional alphabeticdesignators or second reference labels, if any.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system configured inaccordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure tofacilitate ad hoc communications in dense areas.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative representation of a use of a system embodimentof the present disclosure to facilitate ad hoc communications in a densearea that involves an event area.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative representation of a use of a system embodimentof the present disclosure to facilitate ad hoc communications in a densearea that involves a geographic area, such as a business district.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process for facilitating ad hoccommunications in a dense area and in accordance with at least oneembodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The various embodiments described herein are directed to devices,systems, and processes for facilitating ad hoc communications in a densearea. As discussed above and as used herein, a dense area may arise dueto a number of user devices overwhelming wireless components (WCs)otherwise available within an event area and/or a geographic area.

As shown in FIG. 1, for at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, a system 100 for facilitating ad hoc communications betweenat least one USD, located in a dense area, and a UDD may include a userhub device (UHD) 102, at least one user source device (USD) 130, atleast one wireless component (WC) 150, and at least one user destinationdevice (UDD) 140. As further, shown, one or more user intermediarydevices (UIDs) 120 may be used in the system 100 to facilitatecommunications between the USD 130 and the UDD 140 via each of the oneor more UIDs 120 and the UHD 102. Further, communications between two ormore USDs 130 within a dense area may be facilitated by one or more UIDs120.

As further shown in FIG. 1, permutations of communications links(herein, “links”) may be utilized in a given embodiment including, butnot limited to (and as illustratively shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 anddiscussed below), a “first link” 170 between a USD and a UID, a “secondlink” 172 between a UID and a UHD, a “third link” 174 between a UID andanother UID, a “fourth link” 176 between a USD and a UHD. A “fifth link”178 between a UHD and another UHD. A “sixth link” 180 may be used tocouple a UHD with a WC. A “seventh link” 182 may be used to couple a WCwith a UDD. And, an “eighth link” 184 may be used to couple a UHD with aUDD. Various permutations of non-limiting uses of such links are shownin FIGS. 2 and 3.

As used herein, links 170 to 178 may be singularly and/or collectivelyused, in any then desired permutation, to form a “internal net” within agiven dense area. As used herein, an internal net commonly includes atleast one USD 130 and at least one of a UID 120 and a UHD 102. As usedherein, an internal net is formed between private user devices, on an adhoc basis, and is not formed by use of a public wireless systemsprovider.

Links 180 to 184 may be singularly and/or collectively used, in any thendesired permutation, to form an “external net.” As used herein, anexternal net includes at least one UHD 102 and at least one UDD 140. Asused herein, a combination of an internal net and an external net formsa “communications net.”

For at least one embodiment, each of a USD 130, UID 120, UHD 102, andUDD 140 may be similarly configured devices, such as smartphones. For atleast one embodiment, UDDs may be configured as any desired user device,service, system, application, database, or otherwise. UDDs may be hostedon remote servers, user devices, or otherwise.

The distinctions arising between a USD 130, UID 120, UHD 104, and UDD140 at any given time, may thus arise due to the functions andcapabilities then being used by the given device. Further, each of a UID120 and a UHD 102 may also function as a USD 130 with respect to the usethereof to communicate with one or more UDDs 140 and/or with one or moreUSDs 130 within a dense area. That is, a UHD 102 may function as agateway facilitating communications between a given USD 130 and a UDD140 while also functioning as a USD 130 for facilitating communicationsbetween a user of that given device and another USD 130 or UDD 140.

For at least one embodiment, a UID 120 may similarly function as both anintermediary, for use in communicatively coupling a given USD 130 with aUHD 102, as well as a USD 130 for facilitating communications by a userof such device, via another UID 120 with another USD 130, or via a UHD102 with a UDD 140. For at least one embodiment, a UID 120 and/or a UHD102 may be configured to facilitate a local group, such as a group chat,amongst two or more USDs 130 within a given dense area and/or amongstUSDs 130 and UDDs 140. Accordingly, it is to be appreciated that a givenuser device may perform multiple roles at any given time, whileperforming fewer or more roles at other times.

For at least one embodiment, the links used to form an internal netand/or external net may use any currently known or later arisingcommunications technologies. For at least one embodiment, links for aninternal net may be established using peer-to-peer communicationstechnologies. For at least one embodiment, an internal net may use a huband spoke configuration, with a UID 120 or a UHD 140 at the center/hubof the spokes. Further, the links for an internal net may beself-forming, decentralized, point-to-multi-point, or use othercommunications topologies. The internal net links may form in differenttopologies based upon then arising intended use. For example, acommunication between a USD 130 and a UHD 102 may be formed using one ormore, if any, UIDs 120.

For at least one embodiment, additional users may be added to aninternal net, as desired, by modifying the internal net topologyaccordingly. For example, a UID 120 or UHD 102 may be configured tofunction as a hub that broadcasts communications between multiple userdevices, such devices then functioning in, at least, a USD role.

For at least one embodiment, a single UHD 102 may be utilized to coupleone or more UDDs 140 to an internal net formed with a USD 130 in a densearea. For another embodiment, multiple UHDs 102 may be utilized tocouple multiple UDDs 140 to an internal formed with one or more USDs 130in a dense area. For at least one embodiment, multiple internal nets maybe formed using one or more USDs 130, UIDs 120 and/or UHDs 102. For atleast one embodiment, multiple external nets may be formed using one ormore UHDs 102, UDDs 140, and/or one or more WCs 150.

For at least one embodiment, one or more internal net links may beestablished using WIFI radio technologies, long range BLUETOOTHtechnologies, normal range BLUETOOTH, or freely available/public/commonuse wireless communications technologies (herein, each individually andcollectively being a “common use communications” technology, service,protocol, system or otherwise).

For at least one embodiment, one or more external net links may beestablished using common cellular communications technologies including,but not limited to, 3G/4G/5G technologies. For at least one embodiment,one or more external net links may be established using any desiredcommunications technology including use of Ethernet, the Internet,private networks, public networks, the plain old telephone service(POTS), microwave, fiber-optic, wireless, wired, cellular or othernetworking and/or communications technologies and combinations thereof.

As shown in FIG. 2, at least one embodiment of the present disclosuremay be used in an event area that includes a stadium 200 or similarvenue. The stadium 200 may include multiple seats 202 arranged acrossone or more tiers, such as tier one seats 202(1), tier two seats 202(2),and tier three seats 202(3). Other seating configurations may be usedfor any given implementation. Further, numerous users A, C-G may besituated in the stadium 200. Each user A, C-G in the stadium 200 may beequipped with a user device that, depending upon then arising mode ofoperation, may function as a USD 130, UID 120 or UHD 102.

In FIG. 2, USDs A/B are depicted without shading, UIDs C/D/E withpartial shading, and UHDs F/G with solid shading. As shown, the two USDs130(A)/130(B) may be each communicatively and respectively coupled to aUDD 140 using an internal net that includes one or more communicationlinks that may be dynamically configured based upon then arising andavailable UIDs and/or UHDs. It is to be appreciated that thecommunication links used to form a given internal net may vary basedupon capabilities of a given user device, the ability of such given userdevice to then function as a UID or a UHD, and/or other factors and/orcommunications constraints.

For example, USD 130(A) may form an internal net that is communicativelycouple, via one or more of UHD 102(F) and/or UHD 102(G), with anexternal net coupling a WC component 150 with a UDD 140. The internalnet may, at any given time, use various links to couple USD 130(A) witheither UHD 102(F) or UHD 102(G). As used, herein, an alphabeticdesignator (such as “A”) is used designate a route used for a giveninternal net and a numeric designator (such as “1/2/3/4/5”) is used toindicate a sequence number of link used to facilitate suchcommunications. It is to be appreciated that communications may beunidirectional and/or bidirectional.

For a non-limiting example, an “A” internal net coupling USD 130(A) withUHD 102(F) may include links 170(A-1), 172(A-2), and 172(A-3).Similarly, a “B” internal net coupling USD 130(A) with UHD 102(F) mayinclude links 170(B) and 172(B). Similarly, a “C” internal net couplingUSD 130(A) with UHD 102(F) may include links 170(B), 172(C), and 178(C).Similarly, a “D” internal net coupling USD 130(A) with UHD 102(G) mayinclude links 170(B) and 172(C). Similarly, an “E” internal net couplingUSD 130(B) with UHD 102(G) may includes link 178(E).

Further, various external nets may be formed depending on the UHD usedat that time. For a non-limiting example, an “F” external net betweenUHD 102(F) and UDD 140 may be formed using links 180(F) and 182 or link184(F). Similarly, a “G” external net between UHD 102(G) and UDD 140 maybe formed using links 180(G) and 182.

It is to be appreciated that internal nets and external nets may use anydesired links and/or combinations thereof at any given time. The use ofa given link may depend upon an availability of a UID, UHD, WC and/orcapabilities supported by such device at a given time.

For at least one embodiment, the user devices may be configured toestablish appropriate links based upon then available linking options,in view of parameters associated with each of such links, such asbandwidth, latency, or the like, in view of the type of informationdesired to be communicated by a given source user, and otherwise.

As shown in FIG. 3, at least one embodiment of the present disclosuremay be used in a geographic area that arises due to topography, signalinterferences, or other considerations. For example, in an urban area, afirst user A operating a USD 330(A) may be communicatively coupled to aUDD 340 by a second user C, operating a UID 320(C), and a third user F,operating a UHD 302(F). As shown a first direct link 390 between thefirst USD 330(A) and a WC 350 is interfered with by a building 392 orother geographic feature. Accordingly, a use of an embodiment of thepresent disclosure facilitates communications between the first USD330(A) and the UDD 340 by use of UID 320(C) and UHD 302(F) and in anenvironment where, absent use of an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, such communications would otherwise not be possible.

Referring again to FIG. 1 and as mentioned above, each of the USD 130,UID 120 and UHD 102 may have similar components and capabilities, withvarious uses of such components and capabilities arising based upon athen occurring role or function performed by each such device.Accordingly, each of the USDs, UIDs and UHDs described herein aredescribed in common with respect to a common “user device” with theserole based differences being noted accordingly herein.

Processor Module (104)

Referring again to FIG. 1, a user device may include one or moreprocessor modules 104 configured to provide computer implementedsoftware and hardware engines including, at least, a user circle engine106 and a geo-routing engine 108. Other computer implemented engines maybe provided for other embodiments.

The processor module 104 may be configured to provide any desired dataand/or signal processing capabilities. For at least one embodiment, theprocessor module 104 may have access to one or more non-transitoryprocessor readable instructions, including instructions for executingone or more applications, engines, and/or processes configured toinstruct the processor to perform computer executable operations(hereafter, “computer instructions”). The processor module 104 may useany known or later arising processor capable of providing and/orsupporting the features and functions of a given user device as neededfor any given intended use thereof and in accordance with one or more ofthe various embodiments of the present disclosure.

For at least one non-limiting embodiment, the processor module 104 maybe configured as and/or has the capabilities of a 32-bit or 64-bit,multi-core ARM based processor. For at least one embodiment, theprocessor module 104 may use, in whole or in part, one or more backendsystems, such as server systems or otherwise. Computer instructions mayinclude firmware and software instructions, and associated data for usein operating a given user device, as executed by the processor module104. Such computer instructions provide computer executable operationsthat facilitate one or more features or functions of a given user deviceand in accordance with one or more embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

User Circle Engine (106)

For at least one embodiment, the processor module 104 may be configuredto implement computer instructions for configuring a user device tofunction as a node connecting two or more user devices, and between UHDs102 and a UDD 140 directly and/or via one or more WCs 150. For at leastone embodiment, a user circle engine 106 may be executed by eachprocessor module 104 for those user devices participating on a givencommunications net. The user circle engine 106 may be a combination of ahardware processor and computer instructions. In other embodiments, theuser circle engine 106 may be implemented by a dedicated or separateprocessing component. The user circle engine 106 may be configured toprovide a given user device (USD/UID/UHD) with capabilities ofdesignating, defining, generating, managing, manipulating, using and/orproviding links between two or more user devices.

As used herein a user circle is defined to be a grouping of two or moreuser devices (e.g., USDs, UIDs and/or UHDs), as established at a givenpoint of time, using one or more links, and via which one or more ofsuch user devices may be communicatively coupled with another deviceusing an internal net. The internal net may provide for direct orindirect links between two or more user devices. The internal net mayuse, for non-limiting examples, peer-to-peer, hub and spoke, star, orother communications topologies. The user circle engine 106 may beconfigured to permit certain known, discoverable, unknown or otherdevices within a given dense area to join in a given user circle.

For at least one embodiment, a user circle may be formed such that a UHD102 participating therein further provides communicative coupling forone or more USD in the internal circle with an external net formed withone or more UDDs 140. As discussed above, an external net may be formedeither directly or indirectly with one or more UDDs, such as using oneor more WCs 160.

For at least one embodiment, a user circle commonly includes at leastone USB (such as USB 130(A) of FIG. 2), and may include at least onesecond USD (such as USB 130(B) of FIG. 2). A user circle also commonlyincludes at least one of a UIB 120 and a UHD 102. When two USBs are usedin a user circle, one USB may operate as a source of data, while theother operates as a destination. Such roles may coexist at any giventime and each device or may vary its role over time, such that simplex,duplex or other communications types may be supported within the usercircle over the internal net then arising. For at least one embodiment,communications between members of a user circle may be provided by useof broadcast, multi-cast, and/or point-to-point communications.

For at least one embodiment, a user circle may be formed to facilitatecommunications with a UDD 140 and when so formed commonly includes atleast one USB 130 and a UHD 102. The UDD 140, arising on an externalnet, may also be included in a given user circle for at least oneembodiment of the present disclosure.

For at least one embodiment, the user circle engine 106 may include aUHD 102 configured to operate as a hub and spoke which facilitatescommunications between a first USD 130(A) and a second USD 130(B) withina given dense geographic area and over an ad hoc and/or then arisinginternal net. For example, communications between two users within astadium may be facilitated, as shown in FIG. 2, using UHD 102(F) as ahub of a user circle that includes “spokes”/links between USBs 130(A)and 130(B), such as links 170(A-1), 172(A-2), 172(A-3), and 178(E).

For at least one embodiment, a user circle engine 106 may be configuredto identify available any acceptable user devices for coupling togetherusing an internal net. Such identification may be based uponrelationship information stored in a storage device 112, such as anapproved user list or the like. For at least one embodiment,relationship information may be used between each of two or more of aUSD, a UID, and a UHD.

For at least one embodiment, a user circle engine 106 may be configuredto invite and/or accept user devices into a given user circle based uponpasscodes, security keys, relationship information, or other informationexchanged and/or arising between and/or relating to two or more userdevices. For at least one embodiment, a user circle engine 106 may beconfigured to accept any user device within range thereof and/orsatisfying/over-coming one or more communications constraints into auser circle. For at least one embodiment, a user circle may include useof multiple internal nets, where different nets are used tocommunicatively couple different user devices together.

A user circle may occur privately, wherein participation in the usercircle is limited to a selected group of users. A user circle may occurpublicly, wherein participation in the user circle is unlimited and anyperson having access to such user circle may join. Participation in auser circle may occur upon invitation. A user circle may occur at anydesired level of openness ranging from private to public.

For at least one embodiment, a user circle seeks to provide informationavailable to form an ad hoc connection between two or more user devicesin a dense area using one or more internal nets. To facilitate suchconnections and internal net(s) being formed, each user device may beconfigured to periodically output one more “available” signals. Theavailable signals may be used to identify a capability of a given userdevice to participate as a UID and/or UHD in a user circle and withrespect to one or more formed or to be formed internal nets. Thecapability of a given user device to participate as a USD may also beidentified for at least one embodiment. It is to be appreciated that agiven user device may not have the same capabilities, as a USD/UID/UHD,as another user device. For example, a first user device may be capableof presenting, communicating or otherwise processing 4K video signalswhile another user device is capable only presenting only up to 1080pvideo signals. Likewise, capabilities of user devices to function as aUID and/or a UHD may vary. The user circle engine 106 in each devicedesiring to participate in a given user circle, and/or with respect to agiven internal net, may be configured to recognize capabilities of otheruser devices participating in the given user circle, and/or a giveninternal net, and based upon such capabilities, adapt one or more oftypes of data communicated, or other communications constraints thereto.Further, for at least one embodiment and when capable of functioning asa UHD, the available signal may identify the one or more external nets,WCs 160 and/or UDDs 140 with which the UHD is configurable tocommunicatively couple with and/or then communicatively coupled to.

Geo-Routing Engine (108)

For at least one embodiment, the UHD processor module 104 may beconfigured to implement computer instructions for a geo-routing engine108, such instruction may also and/or alternatively be implemented by adedicated or separate processing component. For at least one embodiment,the geo-routing engine 108 provides the UHD 102 with capabilities ofdynamically configuring internal nets based upon geo-locationinformation of USD, UIDs and UHDs. The geo-routing engine 108 mayutilize geo-location information provided by any source or otherwisedeterminable by a user device. Such geo-location information mayindicate a current location of a user device, which may be determined,for example, based on an indication thereof by a user, such as asection/row/seat location, or based on other geo-location informationdeterminable by a given user device, such as location informationprovided by GPS and/or other positioning technologies.

The geo-routing engine 108 may also be configured to provide updatesused in forming user circles as a given user device location changes.For example, a user associated with a given user device may change theirlocation to go to a concessions area, restrooms, or otherwise. It is tobe appreciated, that such a change of location of a given user devicemay impact signal strengths, signal interference, signal range and othercommunications constraints and/or concerns and, thus, may result in areconfiguration of a given internal net based upon such changes.

Interface Module (110)

As further shown in FIG. 1 and for at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure, a user device may include an interface module 110.The interface module 110 may include one or more device-to-deviceinterface modules 110(A) used for forming internal nets and/or one ormore device-to-network interface modules 110(B) used for formingexternal nets. The interface module 110 may use any known or laterarising technologies for communicatively coupling a user device with oneor more second user devices and one or more wireless components WC 1500.Non-limiting examples of such interface modules include hardware andsoftware configured for use with one or more of the BLUETOOTH, ZIGBEE,Near Field Communications, Narrowband IOT, WIFI, 3G, 4G, 5G, cellular,and other currently arising and/or future arising communicationstechnologies. Any known or later arising networking and/or othercommunications technologies may be used to facilitate direct and/orindirect communications between user devices over internal nets andbetween user devices and other wireless components (WCs) or UDDs overexternal nets. For at least one embodiment, communications technologiesfor a given internal net may vary by link used. The interface 110, inconjunction with the user circle engine 106 and the geo-routing engine108 may be configured to adapt to link types used based upon user circlethen in use, location of user devices, changes in user device locations,and otherwise.

For at least one embodiment, the interface module 110 may be configuredto operate as a software defined radio. When so configured, theinterface module 110 may use licensed and/or unlicensed frequencies tofacilitate formation of an internal net. Such frequencies may beselected based upon type of data to be communicated and othercommunications constraints.

For at least one embodiment, the interface module 110 may be configuredto include one or more data ports for establishing connections between auser device and another device as a laptop computer, a smartphone, asatellite or cable set top box (an “STB”) or other device. Such dataports may support any known or later arising technologies, such as USB2.0, USB 3.0, ETHERNET, FIREWIRE, HDMI, wireless technologies, andothers. The interface module 110 may be configured to support thetransfer of data formatted using any desired protocol and at any desireddata rates/speeds. The interface module 110 may be connected to one ormore antennas (not shown) to facilitate wireless data transfers. Suchantenna may support short-range technologies, such as 802.11a/c/g/n andothers, and/or long-range technologies, such as 4G, 5G, and others. Theinterface module 110 may be configured to communicate signals usingterrestrial systems, space-based systems, and combinations thereof. Forexample, a user device may be configured to receive global positioning(“GPS”) signals from a satellite directly or otherwise.

Storage Module (112)

For at least one embodiment, a user device may include one or morestorage module(s) 112. Computer instructions, data sets and/or otherinformation (collectively herein, “stored data”) may be stored by suchstorage module(s) 112 and used by the processor 104 and/or other systemhardware and/or software components to provide one or more featuresand/or capabilities of the various embodiments of the presentdisclosure. For example, the processor module 104 may be configured toexecute, use, implement, modify or otherwise process such stored data.It is to be appreciated that the storage module(s) 112 (each moduleand/or sub-division thereof a “storage component”) may be configuredusing any known or later arising data storage technologies. In at leastone embodiment, storage module(s) 112 may be configured using flashmemory technologies, micro-SD card technology, as a solid-state drive,as a hard drive, as an array of storage devices, or otherwise. Storagemodule(s) 112 may be configured to have any desired data storage size,read/write speed, redundancy, or otherwise. A storage module 112 may beconfigured to provide temporary/transient and/or permanent/non-transientstorage of stored data, as the case may be. Stored data may be encryptedprior to and/or at the time of storage, with decryption of such storeddata occurring, as needed, for use by processing module, or otherwise.

Storage module(s) 112 may include one or more databases providinginformation, instructions and/or data for using in facilitating usercircles, geo-routing and otherwise. For at least one embodiment, suchdatabases may include a user preferences database, a history database, acircles database, and a support database. Other databases may beprovided for other embodiments.

User Preference Database

For at least one embodiment, information pertaining to a user and/or apopulation of users (where a population of users is two or more users)may be provided by a user preference database. The storage modules 112may be configured to collect and provide data relating to one moreuser's preferences. The user preferences may include any informationthat may be and/or is useful in supporting one or more user circles.Non-limiting examples of such preferences may include demographic,psychographic, geographic, or other types of information pertaining to auser. The breadth and scope of such types of information, and the degreeof specificity and/or anonymity and/or generality associated therewith,is not limited and may vary as desired with the providing, use, orotherwise of one or more user circles. Any source of information may beused in populating the user's preferences database. Preferenceinformation may be populated based on user behavior, user input, userdevice type, or otherwise. Accordingly, the various embodiments of thepresent disclosure are not intended to be limited to any given set orcollection, or source thereof, of user preferences information, unlessotherwise so expressly recited.

History Database

For at least one embodiment, information pertaining to a history of usercircles may be provided by a history database. The storage modules 112may be configured to collect and provide data relating to the use,construction of and deconstruction, as appropriate, of user circles.Such data may be useful in facilitating the creation and/or use offuture user circles, generating opportunities to monetize the promotionand/or advertising of content in conjunction with and/or in support orresponse to the use of user circles, and otherwise. The historydatabase, for at least one embodiment, may include information obtainedfrom a user preferences database, where such information providesinformation about the users participating in one or more user circles ata desired level of anonymity. For example, a history database mayinclude information indicating that certain users in a given stadiumpreviously formed a user circle, for example, during a prior sportingevent. Such information being useful for establishing a user circleduring a current sporting event, targeting marketing users, and otheruses.

Circles Database

For at least one embodiment, a circles database may be configured tocollect and provide data relating to one or more presently configureduser circles. Such groupings may occur automatically, based on userinput, or otherwise. As discussed above, a user circle may be specificto a given content, a given dense area, or otherwise. For example, auser circle may be formed with respect to a content genre (for example,NFL™ football games), a given subset of that genre (for example, SANFRANCISCO 49ERS games), a given instance of the subset (for example, a49ERS vs DALLAS COWBOYS game), a given dense area (for example, LEVIstadium), or otherwise. For at least one embodiment, the genre, subsetand/or instances of content to be associated with and/or associable witha user circle may be defined to any level of generalization and/orspecificity by a user, a group of users in a given user circle, apromotor or organizer of a user circle, or otherwise. For example, abroad generalization may include any content while the before mentionedspecified game may include a specific instance of content.

Further, it is to be appreciated that user circles, as related tocontent, dense area, and otherwise, may be generalized and/or specified(to any level thereof or there-between) to the extent that contentitself may be generalized and/or specified. For at least one embodiment,a user circle may be additionally, separately, and/or alternativelyspecific to a given group of users, such as users A, B and C. Suchgrouping of users in a given user circle may, as desired, may bespecific to a given dense area. User circles may be created based uponany criteria or collection thereof, such as location, user preferences,user history, content to be presented, dense area, or otherwise. Thecircles database facilitates the storage of data related to circles thatthe user circle engine 106 may utilize to facilitate use of a usercircle.

For at least one embodiment, a user circle might be formed and/orformable for all content being viewed by a given user, such as user A,with other users (such as users B or C) in a given dense area. It is tobe appreciated, the storage modules 112 in conjunction with the UHDprocessor module 104 may be configured to collectively facilitate thecreation, use, and otherwise of one or more user circles.

Support Database

For at least one embodiment, a support database may be configured tocollect and provide data relating to one or more functions provided by agiven user device. The support database may be configured to providesupport features, such as tutorials or the like, that provide supportfor formation of internal nets and external nets. Data provided in sucha support database may be used by a user circle engine 106 to create adynamic, or otherwise, internal net in a given dense area.

Other Databases

For at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the storagemodule 112 may include the use, on a transient or non-transient basis,of other databases. The stored data in such other databases beingprovided for execution and/or use, singularly or collectively, by theprocessor 104. Any type of stored data and associated computerinstructions implemented for use of such stored data may be provided.

Security Module (114)

For at least one embodiment, a user device may separately or usingcomputer instructions executed by the processor module 104 provide asecurity module 114. The security module 114 provides a user device withcapabilities of securing user participation in one or more user circlesand with one or more ad hoc formed internal nets and external nets. Thesecurity module 114 may be configured to address security needs,including but not limited to, securing the identify of users, securingcontent communicated via a given link, securing access to a giveninternal net and/or external net, and other security needs. The securitymodule 114 may operate separately and/or in conjunction with securitycomponents provided by other components of the system 100 includingthose provided by WCs 160, UDDs 140, and otherwise. Any desired known orlater arising security technologies, protocols, approaches, schemes, orotherwise may be used in one or more embodiments of the presentdisclosure by the security module 114.

I/O Module(s) (116)

For at least one embodiment, a user device may include one or more I/O(I/O) module(s) 116. Such modules may include audio, visual, text,and/or gesture I/O module.

Audio I/O Module: Audio I/O modules may be configured to support theproviding of audible signals between a user and a user device. Suchaudio signals may include spoken text, sounds, or any other audibleinformation. Such audible information may include one or more of humanlyperceptible audio signals, where humanly perceptible audio signalstypically arise between 20 Hz and 20 KHz. For at least one embodiment,the range of humanly perceptible audio signals may be configurable tosupport an audible range of a given individual user.

For at least one embodiment, an audio I/O module generally includeshardware and software (herein, “audio technologies”) which supports theinput and (as desired) output of audible signals to a user. Such audiotechnologies may include technologies for converting human speech totext, text to speech, translation from a first language to one or moresecond languages, playback rate adjustment, playback frequencyadjustment, volume adjustments and otherwise. Non-limiting examples ofaudio technologies that may be utilized in an audio I/O module includeGOOGLE VOICE, SFTRANSCRIPTION, BRIGHTSCRIPT, GOOGLE ASSISTANT, SIRI, andothers.

In at least one embodiment, an audio I/O module may be configured to useone or more microphones and speakers to capture and present audibleinformation to user. Such one or more microphones and speakers may beprovided by a given user device itself or by a device communicativelycouple additional audible device component, for example, by earbuds maybe communicatively coupled to a smartphone, with the earbuds functioningas an audio I/O module and capturing and presenting audio sounds to andfrom a user, while the smartphone functions as a user device.Accordingly, it is to be appreciated that any existing or future arisingaudio I/O devices, systems and/or components may be utilized by and/orin conjunction with a user device to facilitate communications within aninternal net and/or for communication over an external net. In at leastone embodiment of the present disclosure, users provide their commentsaudibly for presentation to other users on an internal net and/or on anexternal net and receive representations of other user's comments alsoaudibly.

For at least one embodiment, an audio I/O module may be configured toautomatically recognize and capture comments spoken by a user andintended for sharing on an internal net and/or on an external net. Suchidentification may occur as a default setting of the audio I/O moduleinto a “capture” mode, based upon analysis and recognition of spokencomments as being intended for one or more second users on acommunications net or portion thereof, or otherwise. For example, acomment such as, “Bill, that is just wrong,” where “Bill” is the name ofa second user on a communications net or portion thereof, may beautomatically captured and shared by an audio I/O module with Bill'suser device over an internal net. The analysis and determination ofwhich captured sounds to share with select if not all members on acommunications net or portion thereof may be accomplished by a userdevice solely and/or in conjunction with a UID and/or UHDcommunicatively used for form a given communications net or portionthereof.

For at least one embodiment, a priming key word, such as “Hey <username>” may also and/or alternatively be used to designate which audiocomments, by a first user, are to be shared solely with one more secondusers on a communications net or portion thereof. While the use ofpriming key words are supported, for at least one embodiment, the system100 may be configured to automatically recognize and share users'comments throughout a communications net or portion thereof on abroadcast, multicast, or other, more limited, dissemination basis.

Visual I/O Module: For at least one embodiment, a user device mayinclude a visual I/O module configured to support the providing ofvisible signals between a user and a user device. Such visible signalsmay be in any desired form, such as still images, motion images,augmented reality images, virtual reality images and otherwise. Suchvisible information may include one or more of humanly perceptiblevisible signals. For at least one embodiment, a visual I/O module mayalso be configured to capture non-humanly visible images, such as thosearising in the X-ray, ultra-violet, infra-red or other spectrum ranges.Such non-humanly visible images may be converted, as desired, intohumanly visibly perceptible images by a user device.

For at least one embodiment, a visual I/O module generally includeshardware and software (herein, “visible technologies”) which supportsthe input by and (as desired) output of visible signals to a user. Suchvisible technologies may include technologies for converting images (inany spectrum range) into humanly perceptible images, converting contentof visible images into a given user's perceptible content, such as bycharacter recognition, translation, playback rate adjustment, playbackfrequency adjustment, and otherwise.

A visual I/O module may be configured to use one or more display devicesconfigured to present visible information to user. A visual I/O modulemay be configured to use one or more image capture devices, such asthose provided by lenses, digital image capture and processing softwareand the like which may be provided by a given user device itself or by acommunicatively coupled additional image capture device component, forexample, a remote camera in a vehicle or otherwise. Accordingly, it isto be appreciated that any existing or future arising visual I/Odevices, systems and/or components may be utilized by and/or inconjunction with a user device to facilitate the capture, communicationand/or presentation of visual information in conjunction with one ormore communications nets or portions thereof. In at least one embodimentof the present disclosure, users provide their comments visibly forpresentation to other users on a communications net or portion thereofand receive representations of other user's comments visibly. Asdiscussed above with regard to audible comments, such visible commentsmay be captured automatically, upon use of one or more priming keyimages, or otherwise.

Text I/O Module: For at least one embodiment, a user device may includea text I/O module configured to support the providing of textualinformation by a user using a user device. Such textual informationsignals may be in any desired language, format, character set, orotherwise. Such textual information may include one or more of humanlyperceptible characters, such as letters of the alphabet or otherwise.For at least one embodiment, a text I/O module may also be configured tocapture textual information in first form, such as a first language, andconvert such textual information into a second form, such as a secondlanguage.

A text I/O module generally includes hardware and software (herein,“textual technologies”) which supports the input by and (as desired)output of textual information signals to a user. Such textualtechnologies may include technologies for inputting, outputting, andconverting textual content into a given user's perceptible content, suchas by character recognition, translation, size/font adjustment, andotherwise. In at least one embodiment, a text I/O module may beconfigured to use an input device, such as a keyboard, touch pad, mouse,or other device to capture textual information. It is to be appreciatedthat any existing or future arising text I/O devices, systems and/orcomponents may be utilized by and/or in conjunction with a user deviceto facilitate the use of textual information for dissemination over acommunications net or portion thereof. In at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure, users provide their comments textually forpresentation to other users in a user circle and receive representationsof other user's comments textually. As discussed above with regard toaudible comments, such textual comments may be captured automatically,upon use of one or more priming key words or textual characters orstrings thereof (e.g., the depressing of a “comment” button beingindicative that a following string of characters are intended ascomments for the user circle), or otherwise.

Gesture I/O Module: For at least one embodiment, a user device mayinclude a gesture I/O module configured to support the providing ofgesture information, such as sign language, by a user using a userdevice. Such gesture information signals may be in any desired form orformat. Such gesture information may include one or more of humanlyperceptible characters, such as those provided by sign language. For atleast one embodiment, a gesture I/O module may also be configured tocapture a user's motions to control one or more aspects of a userdevice, examples of such motions including those commonly used onsmartphone touch interfaces.

A gesture I/O module generally includes hardware and software (herein,“gesture technologies”) which supports the input by and (as desired)output of gesture information signals to a user. Such gesturetechnologies may include technologies for inputting, outputting, andconverting gesture content into any given form, such as into textualinformation, audible information, visual information, deviceinstructions or otherwise. In at least one embodiment, a gesture I/Omodule may be configured to use an input device, such as a motiondetecting camera, touch pad, mouse, motion sensors, or other devicesconfigured to capture motion information.

It is to be appreciated that any existing or future arising gesture I/Odevices, systems and/or components may be utilized by and/or inconjunction with a user device to facilitate the use of gestureinformation in one or more user circles and on a communications net orportion thereof. In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure,users provide one or more of their comments via gestures forpresentation to other users in a user circle and receive representationsof other user's comments in a second desired format, such as audibly,visually, via characters, or otherwise. Thus, it is to be appreciatedthat the various embodiments of the present disclosure may be configuredto use one or more of the described above and/or other I/O devices tofacilitate user participation in a user circle. Such I/O devices may beused individually or in any desired combination thereof. As discussedabove with regard to audible comments, such gesture comments may becaptured automatically, upon use of one or more priming key gestures(e.g., the waving of one's hand in a certain manner, or nodding orshaking one's head), or otherwise.

Geo-Position Module (118)

For at least one embodiment, a user device may include a geo-positionmodule 118 configured to identify a position of a given user device. Thegeo-position module 118 may be configured to use any device positiondetermining technology, including but not limited to, global positioningtechnologies, IP addressing, user input (e.g., a user inputs theirlocation by use of any user compatible input format), or otherwise.Position information generated and/or captured by a geo-position module118 may be utilized by processor module 104 to facilitate use of usercircles and formation of internal nets and external nets.

Wireless Components (150)

As shown in FIG. 1, the system 100 may also include one or more wirelesscomponents (WC) 150. Non-limiting examples of such networked componentsinclude network storage modules, network processor modules, and networksupport modules.

Wireless Component Storage Modules: For at least one embodiment,wireless component storage modules may be communicatively coupled to aUHD 102 by one or more links. The wireless component storage modules maybe provided via any wireless and/or networked devices and/or systems,such as those communicatively accessible via 3G/4G/5G systems, theInternet, or other communications and/or networking technologiesincluding but not limited to local, regional, private, public or othernetworking technologies. It is to be appreciated that the wirelesscomponent storage modules may also be referred to herein as a storagecomponent and may be configured using any known or later arising datastorage technologies. In at least one embodiment, a wireless componentstorage module may be configured using flash memory technologies,micro-SD card technology, as a solid-state drive, as a hard drive, as anarray of storage devices, or otherwise. A wireless component storagemodule may be configured to have any desired data storage size,read/write speed, redundancy, or otherwise. A wireless component storagemodule may be configured to provide temporary/transient and/orpermanent/non-transient storage of one or more data sets, computerinstructions, and/or other information.

Wireless component Processor Module: For at least one embodiment, one ormore wireless component processor modules may be configured to executecomputer instructions which facilitate in whole, or in part, theformation of external nets. Wireless component processor modules may useany known or later arising network and/or server based technologies.Such wireless component processor modules may be configured to supportand/or perform, separately and/or in conjunction with one or more of aUHD 102, one or more computer instructions utilized in facilitating oneor more external nets.

Wireless component Support Module: For at least one embodiment, one ormore wireless component support modules may be configured to executecomputer instructions which facilitate in whole, or in part, the use ofexternal nets. Wireless component support modules may use any known orlater arising network and/or server based technologies that facilitatesupport of a user with respect to an external net or other technologyissue.

In FIG. 4 and for at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, aprocess for facilitating ad hoc communications in a dense area is shown.

Per Operation 400, the process may begin with an internal networkingapplication being initiated by a first user device. Herein, such anapplication (herein, an “ad hoc net app”) provides computer instructionsfor use on a given user device, such as a smartphone, tablet or similardevice, which initiates participation in and/or for forming of an ad hocinternal net. It is to be appreciated that for at least one embodiment,a first user device may initiate the ad hoc net app every time the userdesires to participate in an internal net. For another embodiment, thead hoc net app may be initiated once and run in a background mode withthe application being inoperable while certain minimum communicationsconstraints are satisfied. When such minimum communications constraintsare not satisfied, the application may exit background mode and becomeactive. It is to be appreciated that such communications constraints mayvary by user, user device, geographic location, time of day, orotherwise. For another embodiment, the ad hoc net app may be initiatedwhen emergency conditions are indicated, such as by a user seeking todial a “911” or similar emergency services number or otherwise.

Per Operation 402, the process may include the first user deviceoutputting an “available” signal. For at least one embodiment, theavailable signal may be broadcast on one or more communicationsfrequencies and/or using one or more communications topologies. Forexample, the available signal may be sent on a BLUETOOTH channel, a WIFIchannel, a 3G/4G/5G channel, on a dedicated radio frequency channel, orotherwise.

Per Operation 404, the process may include awaiting receipt of a“response” to the “available” signal from one or more second userdevices. For at least one embodiment, a “response” may include anindication by a second user device, which may also be configured to useand is actively using an ad hoc net app, that the second user device isavailable and interested in joining an ad hoc internal net with thefirst user device. When a “response” is received by the first userdevice, the process may proceed to Operation 412. When a “response” isnot received within a predetermined time period, where the predeterminedtime period may be specific to the first user device, standardized, orotherwise determined, the process may proceed to Operation 406.

Per Operation 406, the process may include use of a count-down orsimilar timer to specify a period during which one or more “available”signals are communicated using one or more communications channels,frequencies, technologies, or the like (collectively, “channels”). It isto be appreciated that the first user device may be configured to sendan “available” signal on different channels for different time periods,at different transmission powers, and otherwise.

Likewise, it is to be appreciated that the first user device may beconfigured to use nearer/short range channels first and then longerrange channels later, for example, to minimize power use. Similarly, foran emergency need or under other conditions, the first user device maybe configured to use longer range channels first, for example, based onthe assumption that a greater number of second user devices will receiveand respond to the “available” signal.

Accordingly, per Operation 406, a “time-out” condition being satisfiedmay be pre-set, may vary by channel, may vary by geography/location,time of day, by user device or otherwise. Further, when a time-outcondition is not met (e.g., time not expired), the process may continuewith Operation 402-404, as appropriate for a given user device, channel,or otherwise. When a time-out condition is met (e.g., time expired,battery life of the first user device falling below a given threshold,or other condition being satisfied) the process may proceed to Operation408.

Per Operation 408, the process may include seeking an input from a userof the first user device as to whether the application and/or sending ofan “available” signal and awaiting of one or more “responses” is to end.

It is to be appreciated that for at least one embodiment, a user mayoverride one or more pre-set conditions specifying a time-out threshold.Such an override may be desirable, for example and not by limitation,when a user believes a friend or colleague's user device is withinrange, but, has not yet activated their ad hoc net app on their userdevice. If the application is not to be stopped, the process maycontinue with Operations 402-404. If the application is to be stopped,the process may continue with Operation 410. It is to be appreciatedthat, for at least one embodiment, the ad hoc net app may be configuredsuch that a positive response by a user is required to stop the app.Such a condition may be desirable, for example, when the ad hoc net appwas triggered due to an emergency or alert condition. For otherembodiments, the ad hoc net app may be configured such that a lack of apositive response results in a termination of the app within a giventime period.

Per Operation 410, the process may end. At which instance and for atleast one embodiment, the first user device may be automatically resetto await conditions triggering Operation 400.

Per Operation 412, the process may include, for at least one embodiment,a determination of whether additional “responses” are to be received.That is, the ad hoc net app may be configured to await “responses” bythe first user device sent by additional second user devices beforetaking further action. The app may be configured, for at least oneembodiment, to await responses from a given number of second userdevices before proceeding to Operation 414. For another embodiment, theapp may be configured to await response from one or morespecific/identified second user devices before proceeding to Operation414. For at least one embodiment, such specific/identified second userdevices may be identified using the user circle engine 106.

Per Operation 414, after a given and/or desired number of “response”have been received, the process may include, for at least oneembodiment, a determination by the first user device of whether aninternal net has already been formed by two or more of the respondingsecond user devices (herein, a “sub-internal net”). If a sub-internalnet has already been formed, the process may proceed, for at least oneembodiment, to Operation 416. If a sub-internal net is not alreadyformed, the process may proceed to Operation 418.

Per Operation 416, the process may include a determination may be madeby the first user device and/or by a second user device as to whetherthe sub-internal net is adequate for the intended uses of the first userdevice and/or one or more of the second user devices. For example, analready formed sub-internal net may not be adequate for communication ofcertain forms of data, such as 4K video data.

It is to be appreciated that the adequacy or lack thereof of an alreadyformed sub-internal net may vary over time, based upon type of data tobe communicated at a given time, and otherwise. Accordingly, it is to beappreciated that Operation 414 may be repeated, as desired, during useof the ad hoc net app by any of the user devices communicatively coupledusing the internal net. When the existing sub-internal net isinadequate, at any time, and for any purpose, the process may includeOperation 418. When the existing sub-internal net is adequate, at agiven time and for a given purpose, the sub-internal net may bedesignated as the internal net to be used to communicate data betweenone or more USDs, UIDs and/or UHDs. The process may proceed to Operation420.

Per Operation 418, the process may include forming an internal netand/or reforming an existing sub-internal net to provide an internalnet, at any given time, that furthers a given communicative purpose,such as the sending of text, audio, graphic, visual, video, 4K video,virtual reality, augmented reality, biometric, or other forms ofcommunications signals.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, the internal net may beformed and/or sub-internal net reformed on a dynamic and/or ad hoc basisto seek to satisfy a given, then arising, communicative purpose. Asdiscussed above with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3, such dynamism may involvethe selection of different communication paths between USDs, UID, andUHDs. Such communication paths may vary over time and with intended use.When an internal net is formed or a sub-internal net is reformed, as thecase may be, the resulting internal net may be used to communicate databetween one or more USDs, UIDs, and/or UHDs. The process may proceed toOperation 420.

Per Operation 420, the process may include determining whether anexisting, sub-external net has been formed. As discussed above, at leastone embodiment of the present disclosure may be configured for use in adense area only and without providing communications to WCs 150 and/orUDDs 140.

For other embodiments, a system may be formed that facilitates bothinternal net communications, such as those arising between two or moreUSDs, UIDs, and UHDs, as well as external net communications, such asthose arising via use of links between one or more UHDs and one or moreWCs and UDDs. Accordingly and per Operation 420, a determination ofwhether an existing sub-external net has been formed may be performed bythe first user device and/or one or more of the second user devices.

Per Operation 422, the process may include a determination may be madeby the first user device and/or by a second user device as to whetherthe sub-external net is adequate for the intended uses of the first userdevice and/or one or more of the second user devices. If thesub-external net is adequate, the sub-external net may be designated asthe external net to be used to communicate data between one or more USDson the internal net with one or more UDDs. The process may proceed toOperation 426. If the sub-external net is inadequate, the process mayproceed to Operation 424.

Per Operation 424, the process may include forming the external netand/or reforming a sub-external net into an acceptable external net, atany given time, where an acceptable external net furthers thecommunicative purpose then arising for the internal net formed/reformedper operation 418.

It is to be appreciated that the internal net may be used to determineany required minimum communication constraints of the external net. Itis to be appreciated, however, that a given UHD and an external netcoupled thereto may be configured to support multiple internal nets.Thus, for at least one embodiment, minimum requirements for a giveninternal net may or may not be sufficient to satisfy minimumrequirements for an external net providing links between one or more WCsand/or UDDs and one or more other user devices connected to one or moreinternal nets. As discussed above with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3, suchdynamism may involve the selection of different communication pathsbetween UHDs, WCs and UDDs, as the case may be. Such communication pathsmay vary over time and with intended use. When an external net is formedor a sub-external net is reformed, as the case may be, the resultingexternal net may be used to communicate data between one or more USDs onthe internal net with one or more UDDs on the external net. The processmay also proceed to Operation 426.

Per Operation 426, the process may include determining whether anynew/additional user devices desire to join either an internal net or anexisting net. Such process may include one or more ad hoc net appslistening for new “available” signals.

For at least one embodiment, each USD, UID and UHD on a given internalnet may be configured to listen for new “available” signals.

For another embodiment, any desired single user device, combination ofuser devices, type of user devices or permutations of user devices on agiven internal may be configured to listen for “available” signals. Whena new user device is detected, the process may proceed with Operation416, as discussed above. When a new user device is not detected, theprocess may proceed with Operation 428.

Per Operation 428, may include seeking an input from a user of the firstuser device as to whether the application is to end. It is to beappreciated that each user device may end participation in an internalnet at any given time and for any or no reasons. If use of the ad hocnet app is not to end, the process may continue with Operation 416. Ifuse of the ad hoc net app is to end, the process may continue withOperation 410.

It is to be appreciated that the process flow shown in FIG. 4 anddiscussed above is for illustrative purposes only and is not to beconsidered limiting an embodiment of the present disclosure or animplementation thereof to any specific sequence of operations.

Further, it is to be appreciated that various elements of a user device,including but not limited to the security module 114, geo-positionmodule 118, and other modules may be used continually and/or at variousoperations.

Although various embodiments of the claimed invention have beendescribed above with a certain degree of particularity, or withreference to one or more individual embodiments, those skilled in theart could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention. The use ofthe terms “approximately” or “substantially” means that a value of anelement has a parameter that is expected to be close to a stated valueor position. However, as is well known in the art, there may be minorvariations that prevent the values from being exactly as stated.Accordingly, anticipated variances, such as 10% differences, arereasonable variances that a person having ordinary skill in the artwould expect and know are acceptable relative to a stated or ideal goalfor one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. It is also to beappreciated that the terms “top” and “bottom”, “left” and “right”, “up”or “down”, “first”, “second”, “next”, “last”, “before”, “after”, andother similar terms are used for description and ease of referencepurposes only and are not intended to be limiting to any orientation orconfiguration of any elements or sequences of operations for the variousembodiments of the present disclosure. Further, the terms “coupled”,“connected” or otherwise are not intended to limit such interactions andcommunication of signals between two or more devices, systems,components or otherwise to direct interactions; indirect couplings andconnections may also occur. Further, the terms “and” and “or” are notintended to be used in a limiting or expansive nature and cover anypossible range of combinations of elements and operations of anembodiment of the present disclosure. Other embodiments are thereforecontemplated. It is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative only of embodiments and not limiting. Changes in detailor structure may be made without departing from the basic elements ofthe invention as defined in the following claims.

Further, a reference to a computer executable instruction includes theuse of computer executable instructions that are configured to perform apredefined set of basic operations in response to receiving acorresponding basic instruction selected from a predefined nativeinstruction set of codes. It is to be appreciated that such basicoperations and basic instructions may be stored in a data storage devicepermanently and/or may be updateable, but, are non-transient as of agiven time of use thereof. The storage device may be any deviceconfigured to store the instructions and is communicatively coupled to aprocessor configured to execute such instructions. The storage deviceand/or processors utilized operate independently, dependently, in anon-distributed or distributed processing manner, in serial, parallel orotherwise and may be located remotely or locally with respect to a givendevice or collection of devices configured to use such instructions toperform one or more operations.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system, for facilitating ad hoc communicationsin dense areas, comprising: a first user source device (USD)communicatively coupled to an internal net; a first user destinationdevice (UDD) communicatively coupled to an external net; a user hubdevice (UHD), coupled to each of the internal net and the external,configured to facilitate connectivity between the first USD and thefirst UDD via the internal net and the external net; wherein theinternal net uses a common use communications technology; wherein theinternal net is formed in a dense area; wherein the internal net isformed on an ad hoc basis; and wherein the external net uses a publicwireless system provider communications system located external to thedense area.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the dense area is an eventarea.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the event area is one of astadium, arena, auditorium, concert venue, and a church.
 4. The systemof claim 1, wherein the dense area is a geographic area.
 5. The systemof claim 1, wherein the first USD comprises a hardware processorconfigured to execute non-transient computer instructions for use informing the internal net by: broadcasting an available signal; awaitingreceipt of a first response to the available signal; determining whethera sub-internal net exists; forming the internal net when thesub-internal net does not exist; determining whether a sub-external netexists; and instructing the UHD to form the external net when thesub-external net does not exist.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein thefirst user device includes a hardware processor configured to executenon-transient computer instructions for a facilitating a user circleengine; wherein the user circle engine is configured to identify anyfirst relationship information regarding the first USD and the firstUHD; wherein the hardware processor is further configured to form theinternal net based upon the first relationship information.
 7. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the first user device includes a hardwareprocessor configured to execute non-transient computer instructions forfacilitating a geo-routing engine; wherein the geo-routing engine isconfigured to identify a first link for use in communicatively couplingthe first USD with the first UHD; and wherein the hardware processor isfurther configured for form the internal net using the first link. 8.The system of claim 6, further comprising: at least two userintermediary devices (UIDs); wherein the user circle engine is furtherconfigured to provide a second relationship information regarding thefirst USD and a first of the at least two UIDs, and a third relationshipinformation regarding the first USD and a second of the at least twoUIDs; wherein the geo-routing engine is further configured to identify asecond link for use in communicatively coupling the first USD with thefirst of the at least two UIDs; wherein the geo-routing engine isfurther configured to identify a third link for use in communicativelycoupling the first USD with the second of the at least two UIDs; whereinthe hardware processor is configured to form the internal net based uponone of the first relationship information and a combination of thesecond relationship information with the third relationship information;and wherein the hardware processor is configured to form the internalnet using one of the first link and a combination of the second link andthe third link; and wherein the hardware processor is configured to formthe internal net in view of at least one communications constraint. 9.The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one communicationsconstraint is a minimum bandwidth requirement.
 10. A process, forfacilitating ad hoc communications in a dense area, comprising: forminga first internal net between a user source device (USD) and a user hubdevice (UHD); forming an external net between the UHD and a userdestination device (UDD); wherein the first internal net is formed in adense area, on an ad hoc basis, and using a common use communicationstechnology; and wherein the external net is formed using a publicwireless system provider communications system component locatedexternal to the dense area.
 11. The process of claim 10, wherein thedense area is one of an event area and a geographic area; and whereinthe event area further comprises one of a stadium, an arena, anauditorium, a concert venue, and a church.
 12. The process of claim 10,wherein the forming of the first internal net further comprises:broadcasting by the USD an available signal; and awaiting receipt of aresponse signal from at least two responding user devices; wherein theat least two responding user devices includes a first user intermediarydevice (UID) and the UHD.
 13. The process of claim 12, furthercomprising: upon receiving the response signal, determining whether anadequate sub-internal net exists between the at least two respondinguser devices; if the determination results in the affirmative, formingthe internal net using a first link between the USD and the first UIDwith the adequate sub-internal net.
 14. The process of claim 13, furthercomprising: determining whether an adequate sub-external net existsbetween the UHD and the UDD; when the adequate sub-external net does notexist, separately forming the external net; when the adequatesub-external net exists, using the sub-external net as the external net;and forming a communications net between the USD and the UDD bycombining the internal net with the external net.
 15. The process ofclaim 14, wherein the determinations of whether an adequate sub-internalnet and an adequate sub-external net exist are made in view of at leastone communications constraint.
 16. The process of claim 15, wherein theat least one communications constraint is a bandwidth requirement. 17.The process of claim 16, further comprising: wherein when the at leasttwo responding devices further comprise a second UID; facilitating auser circle engine on the USD configured to: identify first relationshipinformation regarding the USD and the first UID; identify secondrelationship information regarding the USD and the second UID; and basedupon the first relationship information and the second relationshipinformation, forming the internal net using one of the first UID and thesecond UID.
 18. A user source device (USD), configured for use infacilitating ad hoc communications in dense areas, comprising: ahardware processor configured to execute non-transient computerinstructions for facilitating a user circle engine; an interface moduleconfigured to communicatively couple the USD with a user hub device(UHD); wherein each of the USD and the UHD are located within a densearea; wherein the user circle engine is further configured to instructthe interface module to communicatively couple the USD with the UHD overan internal link and on an ad hoc basis; wherein the UHD iscommunicatively coupled to a user destination device (UDD) using anexternal link; and wherein via use of the internal link, the UHD and theexternal link, the user circle engine facilitates communications betweena user of the USD and the UDD.
 19. The user device of claim 18, whereinthe dense area is one of a stadium, an arena, an auditorium, a concertvenue, and a church.
 20. The user device of claim 18, wherein theinternal net uses a common use communications technology; and whereinthe external net uses a public wireless system provider communicationssystem located external to the dense area.